Vista Ridge stumbled during an out-of-state trip and, as a result, fell out of the top spot in the Class 3A poll this week.

Cañon City — No. 3 for most of the season, but No. 2 last week following Palisade’s first loss — received six first-place votes in moving up to the top of the 3A Denver Post media poll.

Vista Ridge lost, 32-20, at Borger (Texas) — a 3A school that was 2-4 heading into the game. The Wolves had been No. 1 in 3A since Aug. 29, a span of seven weeks.

Cañon City, meanwhile, narrowly avoided a stumble of its own. The Tigers (7-0) were tied in the fourth quarter with unranked Lewis-Palmer before Colt Palmer’s 1-yard run lifted his team to a 27-20 victory.

Vista Ridge also got six first-place votes, but trailed Cañon City in total points (171 to 159).

John F. Kennedy jumped Silver Creek for the third spot by one total point following its 30-21 win over previous No. 5 Holy Family. Those two teams also received first place votes — Kennedy with four, and Silver Creek with three.

Rifle (fifth), Windsor (sixth), Palisade (seventh) and Battle Mountain (eighth) all moved up on spot as Holy Family fell from fifth to ninth. Roosevelt rejoined the 3A poll at tenth, replacing D’Evelyn.

Grand Junction (5A), Valor Christian (4A), Brush (2A), Burlington (1A), Hoehne (8-man) and Fleming (6-man) all held firm atop their respective classifications.
Horizon made its season debut in the 5A poll this week, at tenth. Led by quarterback Brent Albrandt and running back Andrew Patrick, the Hawks have won six games in a row following a 9-0 loss to Ralston Valley to open the season.

Near the top, unbeaten Columbine jumped Mullen for the third spot. The Rebels and Mustangs meet in two weeks — but Columbine can’t divert its attention just yet: No. 9 Bear Creek awaits Thursday.